Swipe Left on the Lies: What Marriage Really Starts With
Part 10 of Two Become One: The Prelude to a Joy-Filled Marriage
Jada thought they were ready.
She and Marcus had been best friends since their sophomore year at USF. He was hilarious, kind, great with her mom, and made a killer grilled cheese. When he proposed, everyone said the same thing:
“You’re perfect for each other. You’ve got a solid friendship — that’s what matters most.”
But six months into their marriage, something was off.
Fights flared over money. Passion fizzled. Communication started feeling like confrontation.
And Jada kept asking herself:
“How did we get here… if we started off right?”
In today’s world, love is marketed like a product:
- Swipe left on what doesn’t click
- Swipe right on chemistry
- Build a relationship on friendship, good sex, shared goals, and financial stability
But what if those things aren’t the foundation?
In Part 3 of this series (Not Sex, Sass, or Self-Care — But Signed, Sealed, and...), we talked about how marriage isn’t built on pop culture formulas.
And in last week’s post (Part 9: The Prelude to a Joy-Filled Marriage), Bethany and Jalen learned just how powerful their words could be.
But there’s one truth deeper than all the rest:
Marriage doesn’t start with the wedding — it starts with the Word.
Let’s go back to the very first love story — not the one on Netflix, but the one in Genesis.
“It is not good for the man to be alone…”
“So the Lord made a woman…”
“The two shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:18, 22, 24)
Marriage wasn’t created by man.
It wasn’t built on comfort, chemistry, or convenience.
It was designed by God — a spiritual joining of two lives into one.
When Jesus was asked about divorce in Matthew 19, He didn’t say, “Make sure you’re compatible.”
He pointed back to the beginning:
“What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
That word — joined — isn’t about paperwork or romance.
It’s about covenant.
That’s why traditional wedding vows don’t say,
“I promise to love you as long as you make me happy.”
They say: “For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish…”
That kind of love needs more than a feeling.
It needs God’s definition of love — not just the world’s version.
Most people can quote “Love is patient, love is kind…” from 1 Corinthians 13.
But fewer recognize what love is not:
- Love is not self-seeking.
It’s not all about me — my comfort, my happiness, what I want for dinner, or where I want to vacation. It asks, “How can I serve you?”
- Love is not easily angered.
Burnt toast doesn’t spark a fight.
A surprise purchase isn’t a betrayal.
Not getting your way doesn’t mean they don’t love you.
Love breathes before it reacts.
- Love keeps no record of wrongs.
It doesn’t sound like,
“Remember when you forgot to…”
or
“You did this same thing two years ago.”
Love doesn’t carry receipts — it gives grace.
- Love does not delight in evil.
It doesn’t gloat.
It doesn’t gossip.
It doesn’t manipulate or seek revenge.
It seeks restoration, not retaliation.
Marriage is a spiritual covenant — not a contract between two people, but a sacred bond between three: you, your spouse, and God.
And without that third strand, even strong couples eventually fray.
Jada and Marcus began again — this time with a foundation built on faith.
They didn’t need a new partner.
They needed a new perspective.
That’s what Joy for a Lifetime is here to help with.
Whether you're:
- Planning a wedding
- Considering a vow renewal
- Already married but need a reset…
Your story isn’t over.
It may just be starting the right way.
✨ Want a simple but sacred ceremony?
✨ Craving deeper joy and spiritual connection in your marriage?
✨ Ready to say “I do” — or “I still do”?
Let’s talk.
📱 Call or Text: 813-239-4117
💍 Visit: https://www.notarynearme-florida.com
🔗 Catch Up: Part 3 and Part 9 of Two Become One
So go ahead and swipe left —
on the lies that say love is only about feelings, fun, or fleeting sparks.
Because when you start with God, you won’t just get a ceremony — you’ll get a covenant.
And that’s what leads to joy for a lifetime.
